Administrative Structure of Education by Province – 2024

Provinces & School Administration

Western Province

• Education Zones: 11

• Education Divisions: 38

• All Government Schools: 1,339

  • National Schools: 79

  • Provincial Schools: 1,260

Central Province

• Education Zones: 15

• Education Divisions: 40

• All Government Schools: 1,511

  • National Schools: 56

  • Provincial Schools: 1,455

Southern Province

• Education Zones: 11

• Education Divisions: 39

• All Government Schools: 1,100

  • National Schools: 70

  • Provincial Schools: 1,030

Northern Province

• Education Zones: 13

• Education Divisions: 35

• All Government Schools: 969

  • National Schools: 24

  • Provincial Schools: 945

Eastern Province

• Education Zones: 17

• Education Divisions: 48

• All Government Schools: 1,128

  • National Schools: 42

  • Provincial Schools: 1,086

North Western Province

• Education Zones: 8

• Education Divisions: 31

• All Government Schools: 1,241

  • National Schools: 39

  • Provincial Schools: 1,202

North Central Province

• Education Zones: 8

• Education Divisions: 30

• All Government Schools: 806

  • National Schools: 17

  • Provincial Schools: 789

Uva Province

• Education Zones: 10

• Education Divisions: 23

• All Government Schools: 892

  • National Schools: 38

  • Provincial Schools: 854

Sabaragamuwa Province

• Education Zones: 7

• Education Divisions: 28

• All Government Schools: 1,090

  • National Schools: 31

  • Provincial Schools: 1,059

📊 National Totals (Sri Lanka)

• Education Zones: 100

• Education Divisions: 312

• All Government Schools: 10,076

  • National Schools: 396

  • Provincial Schools: 9,680

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• The 15th census in the series of population censuses conducted in Sri Lanka, the " Census of Population and Housing - 2024," was carried out from 7 th of October to the second week of February 2025. 

• The starting hour of the 19th December 2024, i.e. 2024.12.19, 00:00 hours, was designated as the “Census Moment” of this census. 

• As in the 2012 census, the enumeration of persons was carried out according to their place of usual residence, i.e., according to the de jure method. 

• In this census, the total population of Sri Lanka was reported as 21,781,800. Of this population, 51.7 percent were females and 48.3 percent were males. 

• In the urban sector, 51.9 percent of the population are females, while 48.1 percent are males. In the rural and estate rural sectors, the percentages of females are 51.7 percent and 51.4 percent, and the percentages of males are 48.3 percent and 48.6 percent respectively. In the estate urban sector, the percentages of females and males are reported as 50.4 percent and 49.6 percent respectively. 

• The sex ratio in Sri Lanka is 93.3. All districts show sex ratio below hundred. The highest sex ratio is reported from Monaragala district (97.9), while the lowest sex ratio in the country is recorded in Batticaloa district (88.0). 

• The population under 15 years of age in the country decreased by 4.5 percentage units, from 25.2 percent to 20.7 percent, during the census period from 2012 to 2024. Further, the population aged 65 and above increased from 7.9 percent to 12.6 percent, and shows an increase of 4.7 percentage points during this period. 

• In 2024, the population aged 15-64 for 66.7 percent of the total population, compared to 66.9 percent in 2012. Accordingly, the percentage of the population aged 15–64 showed a decrease of 0.2 percentage points during the census period from 2012 to 2024. 

• The population under the age of fifteen and those aged sixty five and above are considered dependents. The dependency ratio, which was calculated as 49.4 percent according to the 2012 census, has increased to 49.8 percent in 2024.

• The highest dependency ratio is reported in the Matara district of the Southern Province (55.0 percent), while the lowest dependency ratio is reported in the Colombo district of the Western Province (43.0 percent). 

• In the census, individuals declare their ethnicity. Accordingly, 74.1 percent of Sri Lanka’s total population, roughly three out of four people, are Sinhalese; 12.3 percent are Sri Lankan Tamils; 10.5 percent are Sri Lankan Moors/Muslims; 2.8 percent are Indian Tamils/ Malaiyaha Thamilar. The remaining 0.3 percent belongs to other ethnic groups such as Burgher, Malay, Sri Lankan Chetty, Bharatha, and Veddah. 

• Census reports the religion of the individuals as how they declare. Of the total population, 69.8 percent are Buddhists; 12.6 percent Hindus; 10.7 percent Muslims (Islam); 5.6 percent Roman Catholics; and 1.3 percent other Christians. The rest do not belong to these religions and that percentage is a small value of 0.02 percent. 

• The total migrant population reported in the census was 3,167,263. Among the migrant population 40.6 percent were migrated primarily due to marriage.

• 54.9% of individuals (age 3-21) schooling has been affected.
• 15.1% of individuals involved in economic activities have been affected by job losses (main and/or secondary).
• 23.1% of patients have changed their main treatment method.
• 22.0% of households have indebted.
• 51.0% of income earners who did primary jobs experienced a decrease in their income.
• 60.5% of households have experienced a decrease in their average monthly household income.
• 91.1% households experienced an increase in their average monthly household expenditure.

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The School-Based Student Health Survey Report has been released. We have attached the key data for reference.

Teachers and parents are strongly encouraged to read this report, especially the Conclusion and Recommendations sections.

We have attached the key data for reference Below

• Reported going hungry - 4.3%
• Did not eat any fruit during past 7 days -  24.9%
• Did not eat any vegetable during past 7 days  - 3.1%
• Took carbonated drinks 1 or more times per day -  17.4%
• Took food from local roadside restaurants, boutiques, Choon paan or fast-food restaurants one or more times a week - 70.4%

• Were physically active for at least 60 min/day on all 7 days - 11.9%
• Spent 3 or more hours/day doing sitting activities - 43.9%
• Did not walk or ride a bike to school - 42.5%
• Did not attend physical education classes - 49.4%
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• Clean or brush teeth 1 or more times/day 95.0% 
• Missed school due to a dental problem 6.6%

• Felt lonely 22.4% 
• Felt always worried and could not sleep 11.9% 
• Attempted suicide 9.1% 
• Had no close friends 7.5% 
• Felt depressed 18.0%

• Currently use any tobacco product 9.7% 
• Currently smoke cigarettes 5.7% 
• Currently use smokeless tobacco 7.3% 
• Currently use electronic cigarettes 5.0% 
• Tried cigarette before age 14, among who ever smoked cigarettes 34.7%

• Currently use alcohol in preceding 30 days 5.3% 
• First drank alcohol before age 14, among who ever had a drink of alcohol 39.3%

• Currently use cannabis 2.1% 
• Have ever used Amphetamines or Methamphetamines for non-medical purposes 1.5% 
• Tried addictive substance before age 14, among who ever used drugs 47.7%

• Who were physically attacked 23.8% 
• Were in a physical fight 34.5% 
• Were seriously injured 45.8% 
• Most serious injury was a motor vehicle accident 12.7%

• Have ever heard about HIV infection / AIDS 63.0%
• Have been taught ho to avoid HIV Infection / AIDS 44.2%
• Have been taught how to avoid geting pregnant 42.9%
• Have has sexual relationship - 4.9%

• Parents/guardians knew what they were doing with their free time 61.0% 
• Parents/guardians understood their problems 44.5%
• Parents/guardians checked their homework 57.1%
• Parents/guardians never or rarely went through their things without approval 14.2%

1. Southern
2. EAStern
3. Western
4. Sabragamuwa
5. Central
6. Uva
7. North Western
8. Northern
9. North Central

1. Ampara
2. Matara
3. Colombo
4. Batticaloa
5. Hambanthota
6. Kandy
7. Kegalle
8. Galle
9. Ratnapura
10. Mannar
11. Gampaha
12. Kurunagala
13. Badulla
14. Kalutara
15. Matale
16. Anuradhapura
17. Monaragala
18. Jaffna
19. Nuwareliya
20. Puttalam
21. Mullaiteewu
22. Kilinochchi
23. Vavuniya
24. Trincomalee
25. Polannaruwa